Grand Prix title triumph tilts Trump’s World Championship chances

Judd Trump secured a clinical comeback over Ronnie O’Sullivan to earn a 10-7 victory in the World Grand Prix final, banishing any lasting memories of his previous ranking event defeats to ‘the Rocket’.

Triumphant Trump was in a jubilant mood after dispatching the reigning UK Champion by three frames and picking up his second title of the season.

“Not a lot of people come back from that far behind against Ronnie so I’m over the moon. I’ve dug in all week. I didn’t play great stuff, nowhere near my best,” said Trump.

“At 4-1 down, I was getting a little bit frustrated and then it seemed to turn. It was a weird game, a bit patchy. In the end I kept calm and got over the line.”

Bristol-born Trump found himself in a familiar position during his recent final outing, as he trailed O’Sullivan 7-4, but he showed immense grit to fight back and level proceedings with a sublime clearance of 142, the tournament’s highest break.

‘The Juddernaut’ then won the next three consecutive frames, out-gunning the world number four to land him the title and a £100k prize, as well as an additional £5k for his highest break.

Trump will be a relieved champion, as he ended a nine-month wait for a title triumph. The World Championship hopeful lifted the Australian Open crown last July, but has since been beaten by five-time world champion O’Sullivan in two finals, including the UK Championship and Champion of Champions last year.

Before his Grand Prix win, Trump had previously only made it as far as the quarter-final stage in three separate events this calendar year, which included a defeat to reigning world champion Mark Selby in the German Masters.

However, ‘the Ace in the Pack’ will now switch his focus to lifting the coveted Crucible-crown in May, having finally overcome his constant conqueror O’Sullivan in the final of a major event. Although, ‘the Rocket’ is still a 15/8 favourite to capture his sixth world title this year in Sheffield.

Trump’s determination and ability to overcome severe potting pressure will be a vital aspect of his attempt to become a world champion for the first time, having also staged a remarkable comeback against Martin Gould in the Grand Prix semi-final, overturning a 5-1 deficit to win 6-5.

The 2011 world finalist will face a tough task at The Crucible, with a host of prolific potters also in fine form this season, including former world champions Shaun Murphy and world number three Neil Robertson.

Australia’s ‘Thunder from Down Under’ is 6/1 to secure a second world title, with plenty of other supreme snooker stars ready to challenge in-form Trump for the famous World Championship title later this year.